Die or stamp holding device



Jan. 3, 1928.

1,655,029 M. TIBBETTS DIE OR STAMP HOLDING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1923 2She etS-Sheet 1 Jan. 3,1928. 1,655,029

M. TIBBETTS DIE OR STAMP HOLDING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ill Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UN-I T- E-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON TIBBETTS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CARCOMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

DIE OR STAMP HOLDING DEVICE.

Application and A 'iii 9,

the use of hardened steel numbering dies for stamping numerals on metalarticl es or for rubber slittlTlPS tor stamping numbersor letters onarticles of any sort, but it willbe understood'that other forms ofstamps or dies or tools of a different character from these may be usedwith this invention withoutdeparting from its soirit or its scope.

In themanufacture or' metal articles, for

instance automobile motors, some part of one of the castings orstampings marked with a number or a letter or both to thereby give themotors an identii 'ing mark. Suecessivc numbering usually employed and,of course, it is extremely important thata number shall not beduplicated on an y two motors because their identity would thereby bedestroyed. It is frequently just desirable thata number shall notbe"hipped be cause frequently the amount of production for a given day ormonth is reckoned by these mnnbers, and stock taking is trequcntlyguided by them. and there could be no accuracy it numbers werefrequently skipped.

Vhere these identifying nu1nbers are placed on a large casting or aninaccessible part'ot a motor or other manufactured article. numberingmachines cannot be used and this numbering, therefore, is done by hand,the workman using ten individual number dies standing in a rack orholder. The workn'ia'n then selects the various dies that he requires tomake, for instance, the number 26 M, using one die at a time andreturning it to its place and then selecting the next die.

It is obvious that this method of number ing the castings must bechecked and rechecked to positively eliminate any error befauso thereare so many chances for the workman to make mistakes as he handles the1923. Serial No. 631,040.

numbers, particularly where the numbering I is used one. motor vehicleengine or other motor vehicle parts.

Itis one of the objects of the present inyention to provide a devicethat will largely t not wholly eliminate the chances of error inapplying numbers to articles with indi vidual numbering dies.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a die holding device withmeans whereby the correct dies only may be removed by the workman. I I Iu rnother object of the invention is to provide a die holding devicewith means for successively presenting the dies for removal.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a die holding device withmeans for inter-locking the individual die so that the removal of onedie will lock another die in place.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with thedrawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a die or stamp holding device made inaccordance with this invention, parts being broken away in verticalsection to illustrate the interior construction Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section substantiallv on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 2; u

Figs. l and ,5 are transverse sections on the lines et-at andrespectively of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the carrying mechanism, being takensubstantiallv on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view through another form of the deviceembodying the invention; and r V Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 ofFig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents. a casing or support, theprincipal parts of which are the two end plates 11 and 12, and circularguide pieces 18, three of which are shown equally spaced apart betweenthe.

separated end plates 11, 12. These parts are suitably supported in theirspaced relation by a base 14: and a sheet 15 covers the lower part ofthe device.

A stationary, shaft 16 extends through the middle of the device and issupported at its iii ends by the plates 11 and 12. On this shaft aremounted for rotation several die or stamp holders or wheels 17, theright-hand holder or wheel being positioned between the plate 11 and thefirst piece or ring 13, the second wheel being between that piece andthe neXt one, and so on to the left-hand end of the device. It will beunderstood that there may be any number of these holders or wheels,depending upon the desired capacity of the device.

' The wheels are mounted independently on the shaft 16 and withsutlicient friction thereon to retain them in any set position fromwhich they may be moved by the op erator. No special frictional orpawl-andratchet devices are shown for this purpose as anything of thatsort .may be substituted for the friction mounting on the shaft withoutinvolving invention hereover.

Each of the wheels 17 is formed with a series of radial sockets oropenings 18 and there are enough of these openings to receivev acomplete set of dies. For instance,

if the holder is to be used for numbering dies there-will be ten ofthese sockets 18 equally spaced around the peripheryof the wheel, thedies being numbered respectively from Oto 9.

In the drawings the dies are represented by the letter D and each ofthem is formed with a shank 19 and a head 20 upon which the numeral 21is formed. These may be of usual hardened steel construction with thenumeral raised from the face of the die so that it may be used to stampa numeral on a metal article.

It is immaterial upon which end of the die the numeral 21 is, but asshown'it is on the head end of the die and the head also forms a stopfor preventing the die dropping too far into the socket 18. is'alsouseful in preventing the die from falling out of the socket as theholder 17 rotates and a flange 22 on each of the circular pieces 13- andon the end plate 1.1 acts as a retaining means for the dies. It will beseen that the heads 20 of the dies rest against the peripheries of theholders and the flanges 22 overlap the heads so that the dies cannotfall out when the wheel is-turned and the dies are inreverse position.

However, each of the flanges 22 of the guide pieces or rings 13 has asegmental notch or cut away portion at'23 so thatwhen one of the dies isopposite that part of the flange it may be readily removed by theoperator. -Thus, referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the die withthe numeral 2 on it tained by an inter-locking device in the The headform of a gate or look 2a which is pivoted at 25 and is provided withstops 26 and 27 to determine its range of movement. The left-hand one inFig. 2 is shown in full lines as extending over the head of the diehaving the numeral 6 thereon but it does not interfere with the removalof' the lefthand die. when the 2 die is replaced as pointed out above,the 6 die maybe immediately removed by pushing the lock 2% over the 2die, as shown in dotted lines, and thereby releasing the 6 die. Afterthe 6 die hasbeen used it is replaced and immediately the next lock 24;is pushed over it thereby releasing the at die, and so on until the dieat the extreme right-hand has been reached.

It is the intention that the removal and replacement of the right-handdie shall set the holder for the next higher number. F or instance, asshown in Fig. 2 the number that will be stamped by the dies is 2641 andof course the number of the next casting to be stamped must be 2642.Therefore. when the right-hand die 1 has been used for making the lastnumeral of the num ber of the casting, its replacement must make itimpossible for the workmanto use it for the next numbering operation andit must at the same, time cause theholder to present the'next successivenumber for the use of the operator. r

This is accomplished by mechanism which requires a one-tenth rotation ofthe righthand holder 17 as'the right-hand die is re moved therefrom, anda locking of that die in the holder when it is replaced;

The inner face of the plate 11 is formed with an S-slot 28, one end 29of which is in line with the notches 23 above referred to, and the other'end 30 of which is circumferentially removed thirty-sir; degreestherefrom, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. This slot permits theoperator to remove the right-hand die I) by taking hold of its head 20,raising it partly so that the side of its head moves in the end 29 ofthe slot, then moving the die along the slot 28 until the end 30 isreached and then pulling the die with it the wheel 17 one-tenth ofa'revolu tion and the next numeral, which in the present case is thenumeral 2, is then opposite the end 29' of the slot 28so thatit ispresented for removal by the operator when he requires the next number.j

lVh'en the dieD is replaced in its socket after removal asabovedescribed, it falls under a spring pawl 31-which snaps over itshead and'prevents its removal as long the die opposite the end 30 of theslot.

Thus this die cannot be used again until it has made a completerotation.

Now, a ter the operator has used the dies 2G- 11, successively, and hasreplaced the die 1 in its socket, he will of course begin again at theleft-hand side for the neXt number that he is to stamp on a casing. Hewill find the die 2 locked by the gate 2 1, and the dies 6 and a willalso be locked by the other two gates, thus indicating that his lastoperation was the replacement of the die 1. He now unlocks the die 2,uses it, replaces it, then does the same with die 6 and die at, and thenhe finds that in the right-hand holder the only die he can get out isthe die 2, the die 1 having been locked by the spring pawl 31. Hecannot, therefore, make the mistake of using the die 1 over again butmust use its successor, the die 2. He finds also that he can only usethe die 2 by moving its head in the S-slot 2S and thereby rotate thewheel 17 another step. lvhen he returns the die 2 to its place it islikewise locked by the pawl 31 as was the other die 1.

It will be understood, of course, that if successive numbering is to beonly from 0" to 9 only the right-hand holder 17 would be required, butas the higher numbers are required, without duplication, it is necessaryto add one or more of the wheels 17. Four of these wheels are shown inthe drawings whereby numbers may be stamped up to 9999 withoutduplication.

F or moving the second wheel or holder 17 to present its next numbereddie for removal a suitable carrying mechanism may be employed betweenthe right-hand holder 17 and the next one to it. y a carrying mechanismis meant a mechanism that will move the adjoining holder one-tenth of arevolution at each full revolution of the right-hand holder 17.

One form of carrying mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1and 6. The rightshand wheel 17 has mounted on its side adjacent theother wheel a dog 32 pivoted at 33 and provided with a pin and slot 34-to limit its pivotal movement. A weight on one side of the pivot 33keeps the nose 36 of the dog in contact with the inner surface of thering 13 above referred to. The dog has a carrying lug 37 extending outwardly from one of its faces and the nextadjacentwheel 17 has a seriesof ten pins 38 equally spaced circumferentially. As long as the nose 36of the dog is against the inner periphery of the ring 13 the lug 37 isradially inward of the pins 38 and does not touch them as the right-handholder 17 is turned about its axis. But the dog 32 is allowed to turn onits pivot 33 when it is near the upper part of its movement, by reasonof a slot 39 cut in the inner surface of the ring 13, as shownparticularly in 6. This slot is just long enough and is so positionedwith relation to the dies in the righthand holder 17 that the dog 32will be holder 17 will carry with it the next adja- "1 cent holderduring one of its stepped movements. The dog will then be released fromthe pin by reason of its nose 36 coming in contact with the end of theslot 39 in the piece 13 and pushing the nose of the dog rdownwardly sothat it is free from the pin 38 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

It will be understood that similar carrying mechanism will be arrangedbetween the second holder 17 and third holder, and between the thirdholder and the fourth, and between the other holders if others areadded.

The full operation of the mechanism has been described as thedescription proceeded and consequently no further description isnecessary. Y

teferring to the form of the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the casingis formed by a base and end pieces 51 and 52. A shaft 53 is supported bythe end pieces and movable or rotatable wheels or holders 5-1, 55, 5Gand 57 are independently mounted thereon. Spacers 58 are arrangedbetween these wheels.

The wheels 54, and 56 may be formed similarly to the wheels or holders17 of the device shown in the other figures, being provided with sockets18 and dies D as in the other form. There is also a carrying mechanismindicated generally by the numeral 32, which mechanism is the same as inthe other form and which will not be again specifically described.

The dies D are retained against falling out of their sockets or againstremoval therefrom by a substantially cylindrical casing 59 whichsurrounds the wheels and is arranged just beyond the outer ends of thedies so that the dies will rest against this casing in the lower half oftheir rotary n'lovement.

The upper half of the casing 59 is depressed between the heads of thedies as shown at 60 to retain the dog of the carrying mechanism in itsinoperative position and to provide a slot in the proper place to Iallow the dog to move to its operative position, as previously describedin the'other form of the invention.

At a point where the dies are to be removed by the operator the casing59 is cut away as shown at 61 in Fig. 7 so that each die is accessibleto the operator. No interlocking devices are shown in this form of theinvention but devices similar to those shown in the other form may beused if desired.

Provision is made in connection with the holder or wheel so that thewheel may be moved step by step by the hand of the operator and at eachstep one of the dies is presented for removal and the next step cantion.

not. be taken until that die is returned to its normal position. Each ofthese dies D is formed with a notch 62 in its shank and the wheel 57 isprovided with a catch 63 for each 01 the dies in the wheel, each catchbeing pivoted as at 6 and having a spring 65 to press the lip 66 of thecatch in the notch 6:2 oi the die so that the die is thereby locked orretained in its socket. It is evident that the die thus locked could notbe removed by the operator.

Provision is made for automatically unlocking each die and moving it upslightly out of its socket to thereby present it for removal from thesocket by the operator. The

wheel 57 is mounted on a hub 67 which er;- tends through the plate 51and has at its outer end a hand 'wheel 68 by which the hub 67 and itswheel 57 may be rotated by the operator. If desired the hand wheel maybe provided with a pawl-and-ratchct to prevent it from being turned inmore than Secured to the inner face of are one direction. the plate 51is a bracket 69 upon which two cams 70 and 71, the earn 7 0 beingsomewhat higher than the cam 71 and the cam 71 being slightly in advanceof the cam 70. The movement of the wheel 57 is in the direction of thearrow 72 indicated in Fig. 8 and the cams 70 and 71 are, of course,stationary. The cam 71 is so arranged that it is engaged by a heel 7 3on the catch 68 as the die which the catch controls approaches anopening 64. in the casing 59 at the upper part thereof Where the die isto be removed. This'engagement oi the heel 7 3 on the cam 71 disengagesthe catch 73 from the notch 62 in the die and releases the latter.limuediately thereafter in the further movement of the wheel 57 thelower end of the die contacts with the cam 70 and the latter pushes thedie radially outward a short distance. Immediately thereafter the heel73 slides off oi" the cam 70 and the catch' yicldingly presses againstthe lower part of the die below the notch and holds the latter in itsraised posi- At this point in the rotation of the wheel 57 the head ofthe die abuts against the'wall l tl; oi the casing 59 in the opening 6%and stops the rotation ot the wheel 57. The wheel cannot be furthermoved until the die is returned to its normal position with its notch 62under the lip 66 of the catch. When it is so returned the wheel may berotated another step.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, the oper ation oi the wheel 57 may befollowed. The

die D shown at the right hand side: of the figure is locked in itssocket by the catch 63.

As the wheel 57 is turned in the direction otv rides on the cam 71 andthereby releases't-he 7 die. A further movement causes the lower end ofthe the to ride on" the cam 70 and thereby lift the die to the positionin which it is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8. The catch is also shownin its released position. The next movement fronrthis dotted positionwill permit the heel 7 3 todrop oil of the cam 71 and the head of thecatch 63 will press against the lower end of the die just below thenotch 62 and thereby retain the by the lip 66 of the catch 63. The diecannot again be removed until the wheel makes a full rotation, nor cananother die be presented for removal until the operator has turned thewheel 57 another tenth of a revolution, which he may do by turning thewheel 68. it will be understood that as soon as the wheel 57 has by itsstep-by-step movementmade a complete revolution and the ten dies thereinhave been successively used, the carrying mechanism 33 will then movethe wheel 56 one-tenth of a revolution and thereby present'it-s nextnumbered die for use by the operator;

it will be understood that various forms of the invention other thanthose described above may be used without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

Having thus lescribed myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a die or stamp holding device, the combination of. a plurality ofindependent holders, a plurality of dies independently supported byveach of said holders and inter-com1ecting means between each pair ofholders.

2. In a die or stamp holding device, the combination of a plurality ofindependent holders, a plurality of dies independently supported by eachof said holders and interlocking connections between each pair of said.holders].

3. Ina dieor'stamp holding device, the combination ofa plurality ofrotary holders, a plurality of dies independently supported by each ofsaid holders and carrying mechanism from one holder to the other.

,4. In a die or stamp holding device, the combination of a plurality ofmovable holders, a plurality of dies supported'by each of said holders,and meansi'or successively interlocking said holders. a

5. In a device the class described, in combination, a movable holder,tools removably mounted therein, and'means for presenting the toolsfor'successive removal.

sad

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable holder,tools removably mounted therein, and means for locking in the holder allbut one of the tools which are in position to be removed theretrom.

T. In a device of the class described, in combination, a movable holder,tools removably mounted therein, and means for locking one of said toolsin the holder as one of the other tools in unlocked therefrom.

8. In a die holding device, the combina tion of independent movableholders, a plurality of dies supported by each of said holders, andmeans for releasing said dies from the holders one at a time.

S). In a die holding device, the combination of separate movableholders, a plurality 01" dies supported by each. of said holders, meansfor moving said holders and means, for releasing one of said dies assaid holders are moved.

10. In a die holding device, the combination of separate movableholders, a plurality of dies in each holder, locking devices to retainsaid dies in the holders, and means for unlocking said locking devicessuccessively as the holder is moved.

11. In a die holding device, the comoination of individual movableholders, a plurality 01 dies supported by each holder, and means formoving said holders by steps and presenting one of said dies for removalat each step.

12. In a die holding device, the combination of individual movableholders, a plurality of dies supported in each of said holders, andmeans for successively presenting the dies upon moving the holder.

13. In a die holding device, the combination of a movable holder, aplurality of dies, means for retaining the dies in the holder as thelatter is moved, and means for releasing said dies one at a time.

14. In a die holding device, the combination of separate movableholders, a plurality of dies removably supported in each holder, meansfor retaining the dies in the holders as the latter are moved, and meansfor releasing one of said dies by the movement of one of said holders.

l5. In a die holding device, the combination ot separate movableholders, a plurality of dies removably supported in each of saidholders, means .tor locking the dies within the holders, means forreleasing one of said dies so that it may be removed, and means forre-locking the die when it is replaced.

16. In a die holding device, the combination of a series of rotarywheels adapted to support number dies, carrying mechanism connecting thewheels so that a full rotation of one wheel moves the next wheel onestep, and means for causing a step-by-step movement of one of saidwheels between the successive removal and return of the dies carriedthereby.

17. In a die holding device, the combination of a support, a pluralityof die holding wheels mounted therein, said wheels having diesockets,'dies mounted in the sockets of each wheel, carrying meansbetween the wheels so that the rotation of an end wheel will move thenext wheel a fraction of a revolution, and interlocking connectionsbetween the dies so that one die only may be removed at a time.

18. In a die holding device, the combination of a support, a shafttherein, a plurality of independently mounted die holding wheels on saidshaft, decimal carrying mechanism inter-connecting the wheels,inter-locking devices mounted to permit but one die to be removed fromthe holder at one time, and means permitting a fractional movement ofone of the wheels intermediate the successive removal and return of thedies carried by said wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture.

MILTON TIBBETTS.

